I go through periods where I am extremely high functioning. It’s those periods that sometimes make the times when I am so sick so shocking to some of those around me. For instance, my old coworker who knew of my bipolar (her mother was bipolar I also so I confided in her), was in disbelief when I was behaving as what she clearly recognized to be manic. In almost 2 years, she had only seen calm, composed, and sane little me. I don’t think my boss ever believed I was sick though. I think she thought I was just a big whiner. I don’t really care though.